Detention hinge for toilet seats and covers



Dec. 31, 1935. DULLEE 2,026,024

DETENTION HINGE FOR TOILET SEATS AND COVERS Filed Sept. 17, 1934 9- Patented Dec. 31, 1935 DETENTION HINGE FOR TOILET SEATS AND COVERS Arthur Dullere, Freeport, Ill.

Application September 1'7, 1934, Serial No. 744,277

21 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved detention hinge for toilet seats and covers, adapted to hold the same in raised or lowered position or in intermediate positions and prevent damage thereto, or to the wall or bowl by reason of rough or careless handling.

The principal object is to provide simple and practical detent means in connection with the ends of the hinge arms to restrain or check the seat or cover in its swinging movement to and from lowered position. In accordance with my invention, the detent means is incorporated in such a way that it is entirely concealed for good appearance as well as sanitation, but is nevertheless quickly and easily accessible for purposes of inspection or replacement of parts.

Another object is to provide a detention hinge for the purpose stated embodying screw adjustments to vary the spring pressure on the detent means and thus adapt the hinge to difierent weights of seats and covers, or compensate for wear when the parts commence to swing too freely. The screw adjustments, in accordance with my invention, are incorporated in such a way as not to be noticeable so as not to detract from the good appearance of the structure.

Still another object is to so construct the hinge arms and detent means that the invention is readily adaptable to bowls where a seat alone is used and the cover is dispensed with.

Theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of the rear portion of a toilet bowl, showing the seat and cover hingedly mounted thereon by means of a detention hinge made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a section corresponding to a portion of Fig. 2, showing how the construction may be modified for use with a toilet seat alone.

Similar reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

The invention is shown applied to use in connection with a conventional type of toilet seat 5 and cover 6 on a toilet bowl I of any suitable type. The seat has a pair of hinge arms 8 projecting rearwardly therefrom. 'These arms are herein disclosed as stamped from sheet metal to provide a pad portion 9 arranged to be fastened to the seat, and a pivot portion It! in a plane at right angles to the pad portion, the arm being twisted, as indicated at H, to bring the pivot portion in right angle relationship to the pad portion. There are similar hinge arms 8' for the cover 6, having pad portions 9 and pivot portions Ill. The pivot portions haveregistering holes I2 to receive pivot bolts 13. These bolts are 5 threaded at both ends for reception in holes It in the posts [5, and in holes IS in the opposite ends of the cross-member l1. The bolts are locked to the posts Why set screws l8, so that one can turn the bolts by means of the posts to 10 thread the same into the ends of the cross-member l'l tight enough to have the pivot portions Ill-4G operate with a close working fit. The construction also permits take-up for wear. The posts are fastened to the bowl in the usual way 15 by bolts l9 and nuts 20. While the hinge arms 8-8, posts l5, and cross-member H are illustrated as made of metal, it will, of course, be understood that the parts l5 and IT may be molded of bakelite or other similar material, and 20 where the seat 5 and cover 6 are similarly molded of bakelite or other material, the arms 8--8' may likewise be molded and made integral with the seat and cover, such construction being rendered practical if the arms are reenforced by 25 the molding therein of fibrous material, such as shredded canvas.

The posts [5 have substantially horizontal bores 2! provided therein below the holes l4, and, in each of these bores, a spring-pressed detent plung- 30 er 22 is arranged to operate under the action of a coiled compression spring 23 backed up by a plug 24 threaded in the outer end of the bore. A boss 25 is formed on the lower portion of the member I! at each end, and a horizontal bore 35 26 is provided therein having a spring-pressed detent plunger 21 operating therein under the action of a coiled compression spring 28 held in place by a plug 29 threaded in the outer end of the bore. Now, the pivot portions l0l0 of the 40 hinge arms 88 are provided with conical recesses 30 in the sides thereof to receive the plungers 22 and 21, the recesses 30 in the arms 8' being provided on the side toward the plungers 22 and the recesses 36 in the arms 8 being pro- 5 vided on the side toward the plungers 21. The recesses are in circumferentially spaced relation on arcs with the bolts l3 as a center, and with the proper radius so that the recesses register with the plungers whereby to insure good en- 50 gagement of the conical ends 3| of the plungers in said recesses.

In operation, referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that there are three of these recesses 30 in each hinge arm, identified as a,b and c. When .55

the seat or cover is raised, the detent plungers enter recesses w and serve to hold the seat or cover against accidental dropping, and against bumping the wall. The recesses b and c are used bothto restrain the seat or cover by the entry of the plungers therein in the swinging movement of the seat or cover to and from lowered position, and serve also to hold the seat or cover in either of two intermediate positions spaced approximately 30 apart. When the seat or cover is in lowered position, the detent plungers simply have frictional engagement with the hinge arms, there being no recesses 90 advanced with respect to recesses a, as indicated in Fig. 3. It is clear, therefore, that the detention hinge of my invention places such a restraint or checking action upon the seat and cover that they are not apt to be damaged themselves and will not damage the toilet bowl or the wall behind it by reason of rough or careless handling; the seat and cover must be moved by hand from one position to another because they are not free to swing under their own weight, due to the action of their hinges just described. The bolts l3 afford a convenient means of taking up excess play when the hinge arms show evidence of wear. The

plugs 24 and 29 can also be adjusted to vary the restraining action of the detent means to suit different weights of seats and covers or to compensate for wear. The detent means may also be replaced by removal of the plugs 24 and 29, and, of course, the detent means is also quickly and easily accessible for inspection in the same way.

Fig. 4 shows the construction as modified to suit an installation where the cover is eliminated. In that case, the posts I5 have headed bolts I3 thread in the holes I to serve as pivots for the hinge arms 8a of the seat. Washers 3| are provided under the heads of the bolts to bear against the outside of the hinge arms. The bolts l 3' are tightened enough to have the hinge arms operate with a close working fit. In this construction, the detent plungers 22 cooperate with recesses 30 in the arms 81 to restrain the seat in its swinging movement and hold the seat in raised position as well as in intermediate positions. The spring pressure upon the plungers may be varied by adjustment of the plugs 24. The removal of the plugs permits inspection or replacement of detent parts.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. The combination with a toilet seat having hinge arms projecting from the back thereof, and

posts having pivots for hingedly mounting the seat by means of said arms on a toilet bowl, of a plunger bore provided in one of said posts spaced from and substantially parallel with the pivot axis, and a spring-pressed plunger received in said bore and extended therefrom into engagement with the side of the related hinge arm to yieldingly restrain the seat in its swinging movement to and from lowered position.

2. The combination with a toilet seat having hinge arms projecting from the back thereof, and posts having pivots for hingedly mounting the seat by means of said arms on a toilet bowl, of a plunger bore provided in one of said posts spaced from and substantially parallel with the pivot axis,

in each of said bores and a spring-pressed plunger received in said bore and extended therefrom into engagement with circumferentially spaced detent recesses provided therefor in the side of the related hinge arm to yieldingly restrain the seat in its swinging 5 movement to and from lowered position and hold the same in raised and one or more intermediate positions.

3. The combination with a toilet seat and cover having hinge arms projecting from the back 10 thereof in side by side relation, of posts having pivots for hingedly mounting the seat and cover by means of said arms on a toilet bowl, a crossmember between the posts joining said pivots, a plunger bore provided in one of said posts and in one end of said cross-member spaced from and substantially parallel with the pivot axis, and a spring-pressed plunger received in each of said bores and extended therefrom, one into engagement with the side of a hinge arm on said seat and the other with the side of a hinge arm on said cover to yieldingly restrain the seat and cover in the swinging movement thereof. to and from lowered position. 7

4. A structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein the hinge arms have circumferentially spaced detent recesses provided in the sides thereof for reception therein of the plungers to yieldingly restrain the seat and cover in the swinging movement thereof to and from lowered position and hold either in raised and one or more intermediate positions,

5. A structure as set forth in claim 1 including a plug removably and adjustably threaded in the other end of the bore, permitting removal of said plunger and its spring, or variation in the spring pressure upon said plunger.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 1 including an adjustable screw threaded member in the other end of said bore, arranged when adjusted to vary the spring pressure upon said plunger.

'7. A structure as set forth in claim 3 including plugs removably and adjustably threaded in the other ends of said bores, permitting removal of said plungers and their springs, or variation in the spring pressure upon said plungers.

8. A structure as set forth in claim 3 including an adjustable screw threaded member in the other end of said bores, arranged when adjusted to vary the spring pressure upon said plungers.

9. In a hinge, the combination of a support having a pivot for hingedly mounting a member by means of a hinge arm thereon, of a plunger bore provided in said support spaced from and substantially parallel with the pivot axis, a springpressed plunger received in said bore and extended therefrom into engagement with the side of the hinge arm to yieldingly restrain the member in its swinging movement, and a plug removably and adjustably threaded in the other end of the bore permitting removal of said plunger and its spring upon removal of the plug, or variation in the spring pressure upon said plunger when the plug is adjusted,

10. In a hinge structure, the combination of a pair of spaced supports having pivots for hingedly mounting a member by means of. hinge arms thereon, an intermediate member extending between said supports joining said pivots, a plunger bore provided in one of said supports and in one end of said intermediate member spaced from and substantially parallel with the pivot axis, and a spring-pressed plunger received and extended therefrom each into engagement with .the side of the adjacent hinge arm to yieldingly restrain the member in its swinging movement.

11. In a hinge structure, the combination of a pair of spaced supports having pivots for hingedly mounting a member by means of hinge arms thereon, an intermediate member extending between said supports joining said pivots, a plunger bore provided in one of said supports and in one end of said intermediate member spaced from and substantially parallel with the pivot axis, and a spring-pressed plunger received in each of said bores and extended therefrom each into engagement with the side of the adjacent hinge arm to yieldingly restrain the member in its swinging movement, the hinge arms having circumferentially spaced detent recesses provided therein for reception of the plungers, whereby to hold the member yieldingly in adjusted positions.

12. In a hinge structure, the combination with a pair of spaced supports having pivots for hingedly mounting two members by means of hinge arms provided thereon and extending toward the supports in side by side relation, an intermediate member between the supports joining the pivots, a plunger bore provided in one of said supports and in one end of said intermediate member spaced from and substantially parallel with the pivot axis, and a spring-pressed plunger received in each of said bores and extended therefrom, one into engagement with the side of a hinge arm on one of the supported members and the other with the side of a hinge arm on the other supported member to'yieldingly restrain said members in the swinging movement thereof.

13. In a hinge structure, the combination with a pair of spaced supports having pivots for hingedly mounting two members by means of hinge arms provided thereon and extending toward the supports in side by side relation, an intermediate member between the supports joining the pivots, a plunger bore provided in one of said supports and in one end of said intermediate member spaced from and substantially parallel with the pivot axis, and a spring-pressed plunger received in each of said bores and extended therefrom, one into engagement with the side of a hinge arm on one of the supported members and the other with the side of a hinge arm on the other supported member to yieldingly restrain said members in the swinging movement thereof, the hinge arms having circumferentially spaced detent recesses provided therein to re-' ceive the plungers, whereby to yieldingly hold said members in adjusted positions.

14. A structure as set forth in claim 10 including plugs adjustably-threaded in said bores, arranged when adjusted to vary the spring pressure upon the plungers.

15. A structure as set forth in claim 12 including plugs adjustably threaded in said bores, arranged when adjusted to vary the spring pressure upon the plungers.

16. The combination with a toilet seat and cover having hinge arms projecting from the back thereof side by side, of posts for hingedly mounting the seat and cover by means of said arms on a toilet bowl, a cross-member between said posts, bolts serving as pivots for said hinge arms extending between the posts and the adjacent ends of said cross-member and threaded at both ends into the posts and the member whereby to permit adjustment to take up play in said arms pivoted thereon, a plunger bore provided in each of said posts and in each end of said cross-member spaced from and substantially parallel with the bolts, and a spring-pressed plunger received in each of said bores and extended therefrom into engagement with the sides of the hinge arms to yieldingly restrain the seat and cover in the swinging movement thereof to and from lowered position.

17. The combination with a toilet seat having hinge arms projecting from the back thereof, and posts for hingedly mounting the seat bymeans of said arms on a toilet bowl, of bolts threaded in said posts and providing pivots for said arms, said bolts being adjustable to take up play in said arms pivoted thereon, a plunger bore provided in each of said posts spaced from and substantially parallel with the bolt, and a springpressed plunger received in each of said bores and extended therefrom into engagement with the sides of the hinge arms to yieldingly restrain the seat in the swinging movement thereof to and from lowered position.

18. The combination with a toilet seat having hinge arms projecting from the back thereof side by side, of posts for hingedly mounting-the seat by means of said arms on a toilet bowl, a crossmember between said posts, and bolts serving as pivots for said hinge arms extending between the posts and the adjacent ends of said cross-member and threaded at both ends into the posts and the member whereby to permit adjustment to take up play in said arms pivoted thereon.

19. The combination with a toilet seat and cover having hinge arms projecting from the back thereof side by side, of posts for hingedly mounting the seat and cover by means of said arms on a toilet bowl, a cross-member between said posts, and bolts serving as pivots for said hinge arms extending between the posts and the adjacent ends of said cross-member and threaded at both ends into the posts and themember whereby to permit adjustment to take up play in said arms pivoted thereon.

20. The combination with a toilet seat and cover having hinge arms projecting from the back thereof side by side, of posts for hingedly mounting the seat and cover by means of said arms on a toilet bowl, bolts threaded in said posts and providing pivots for said arms, said bolts being adjustable to take up play in said arms pivoted thereon, a plunger bore provided in at least one of said posts spaced from and substantially parallel with the bolt, and a springpressed plunger received in said bore and extended therefrom into engagement with the side of the adjacent hinge arm to yieldingly restrain said arm in the swinging movement thereof.

21. The combination with a toilet seat having hinge arms projecting from the back thereof, and posts for hingedly mounting the seat by means of said arms on a toilet bowl, of bolts threaded in said posts and providing pivots for said arms, said bolts being adjustable to take up play in said arms pivoted thereon, a plunger bore provided in at least one of said posts spaced from and substantially parallel with the bolt, and a spring-pressed plunger received in said bore and extended therefrom into engagement with the side of the hinge arm to yieldingly restrain the seat in the swinging movement thereof to and from lowered position.

ARTHUR DULLERE. 

